My nephew, Tyler, is seven years old. His mother is Chinese, born and raised in a home where Christianity was unknown. My step-brother married her and eventually brought her and their son to America. At one point soon after their marriage, Holly asked my step-brother about Christianity. He told her that he didn't want to talk about it, but that when he took her to see his dad and step-mom his step-mom would tell Holly all she wanted to know about Jesus and Christianity. Thus, some of the first words out of Holly's mouth when she met my mom were, "Jason said you tell me 'bout Jesus! I Christian, I just don't know anything 'bout Jesus. But Jason say you tell me." My mom almost cried.
Soon after that visit, my step-brother and Holly divorced. But Holly told my mom and step-dad that they were her American parents, she still loved them, and would they please take Tyler to visit them for a little while every summer and teach him all about Jesus? She lived in California and couldn't afford to leave her job, but she desperately wanted Tyler to learn about Jesus. "You teach Tyler about Jesus," she told Mom, "and he'll come home and teach me."
We haven't been able to have him every summer, but whenever he comes, it's pure joy! The last time Tyler was with us he had just turned five. He loved learning the songs like "Zacchaeus," "Only a Boy Named David," and "The Wise Man Built His House Upon a Rock." He asked my mom one time, "Grandma Shari, why did God die? My mommy said God died but she didn't know why and I should ask you. Why did God die?" Later I found him playing with his transformer toys in the living room, having worship with them and trying to teach them to sing "Into My Heart, Lord Jesus"! When he went home that summer, he told his mom they were going to pray before he went to bed. She said she didn't know how to pray. "That's okay, Mommy," he told her, "You just get on your knees beside the bed with me and I'll pray. Oh, and you have to close your eyes and fold your hands." Holly called Mom the day after he went home to thank her for teaching Tyler about Jesus. "Now he'll teach me!" she told Mom excitedly. Oh, what precious jewels these two are!
Now Tyler is seven and visiting us again. At first he couldn't remember the songs he had learned two years ago. When Mom asked if he remembered any of them, he screwed up his adorable little face for a minute, then pronounced solemnly, "Yes. One. I think it said something like 'Jesus loves me this I know.'" Of all the songs we had tried to teach him, I'm so glad that if only one stuck with him it was that one! As the first day wore on, he remembered more and more stories and songs that we had taught him. When he and Grandma Shari went to the post office to mail some packages, he asked her what they were going to make for supper. "Can we have those meatballs?" he asked. "I mean the meatballs that aren't really meat? I liked those. Those were the best meatballs I've ever tasted!" His delight at his grandpa's garden knew no bounds. "Of course, it's best to grow everything yourself!" he declared, much to his grandpa's satisfaction. (Little does the imp know that the surest way to win his grandpa's heart is to admire his garden!)
I am reminded again of our dear Savior's words spoken so long ago, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God" (Mk. 10:14).
Soon after that visit, my step-brother and Holly divorced. But Holly told my mom and step-dad that they were her American parents, she still loved them, and would they please take Tyler to visit them for a little while every summer and teach him all about Jesus? She lived in California and couldn't afford to leave her job, but she desperately wanted Tyler to learn about Jesus. "You teach Tyler about Jesus," she told Mom, "and he'll come home and teach me."
We haven't been able to have him every summer, but whenever he comes, it's pure joy! The last time Tyler was with us he had just turned five. He loved learning the songs like "Zacchaeus," "Only a Boy Named David," and "The Wise Man Built His House Upon a Rock." He asked my mom one time, "Grandma Shari, why did God die? My mommy said God died but she didn't know why and I should ask you. Why did God die?" Later I found him playing with his transformer toys in the living room, having worship with them and trying to teach them to sing "Into My Heart, Lord Jesus"! When he went home that summer, he told his mom they were going to pray before he went to bed. She said she didn't know how to pray. "That's okay, Mommy," he told her, "You just get on your knees beside the bed with me and I'll pray. Oh, and you have to close your eyes and fold your hands." Holly called Mom the day after he went home to thank her for teaching Tyler about Jesus. "Now he'll teach me!" she told Mom excitedly. Oh, what precious jewels these two are!
Now Tyler is seven and visiting us again. At first he couldn't remember the songs he had learned two years ago. When Mom asked if he remembered any of them, he screwed up his adorable little face for a minute, then pronounced solemnly, "Yes. One. I think it said something like 'Jesus loves me this I know.'" Of all the songs we had tried to teach him, I'm so glad that if only one stuck with him it was that one! As the first day wore on, he remembered more and more stories and songs that we had taught him. When he and Grandma Shari went to the post office to mail some packages, he asked her what they were going to make for supper. "Can we have those meatballs?" he asked. "I mean the meatballs that aren't really meat? I liked those. Those were the best meatballs I've ever tasted!" His delight at his grandpa's garden knew no bounds. "Of course, it's best to grow everything yourself!" he declared, much to his grandpa's satisfaction. (Little does the imp know that the surest way to win his grandpa's heart is to admire his garden!)
I am reminded again of our dear Savior's words spoken so long ago, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God" (Mk. 10:14).
Little children, little children
Who love their Redeemer
Are the jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and His own.
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